Window-shade and fixtures.



2 SHEBTfl-SHEET 1.

Patented Oct. 26, 1909.

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WINDOW SHADE AND FIXTURES. APPLIGATIOI FILED IA! 11,1908.

0. V. HUGHES & J. M. ROBINSON WITNESSES:

G.'V. HUGHES &'J. M. ROBINSON.

WINDOW SHADE AND FIXTUEES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 11, 1908.

Patented 0013.26, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

IN V'EN rev/32 /m42 MMMS $6,771, 7;

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CONSTANT V. HUGHES AND J ESSE M. ROBINSON, OF ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGN- OBS TO VENTILATING WINDOW SHADE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF ARIZONA TERRITORY.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CONSTANT V. T1.-. .1 r \l n.. .2...... ,4 .lLliilll'iB ullu ULBUIA' llllIDlfiDUfi, (ll b10611: U1. the United States, and residents of Alameda, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in lVindow-Shades and Fixhad to the accompanying drawings that form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 of the drawing represents in front elevation a window-frame having upper and lower sliding sashes with the rolling shade and fixtures of our invention adapted to provide for ventilation when the shade is drawn down over the window. Fig. 2 is a ver tical section taken transversely through Fig. 1 at w-a'. Fi 3 is a horizontal transverse section taken through Fig. 1 at y-y on an enlarged scale. Fig. 4 is a vertical section on an enlarged scale taken transversely through the two sashes and the stop-boards showing one sash raised and the other lowered. Fig.

5 is a detail plan or top-view of the stopboard for the lower sash. Fig. 6 is a front elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the window shade of our invention removed from the brackets, the shade here shown being constructed for providing ventilation at both the top and bottom of the window, and the .middle portion thereof being broken away to reduce the dimensions of the view. Fig. 7 is a top-view in detail, on an enlarged scale, of the clamping-strip on one side of the casing, and the means by which it is opened or raised to release the shade from the movement of the corresponding-strip on the other side of the casing; this view being a. horizontal sectional view through the easing just above the top of the clamping-strip. Fig. 8 is a detail showing a portion of the shade-stick and the corner of the shade to which it is secured. Fig. is a perspective view of the bracket fixture.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Application filed Hay 11, 1908. Serial No. 432,115.

WINDOW-SHADE AND FIXTURES. I

Patented Oct. 26, 1909.

That part or feature of our invention rclating to the construction of the window ..|...:1. 1. 21.. .Li .L r. H u miauc as as us UUJCL'L LU pruvlue :unutuleb of relatively large size and ample area of opening 1n the ventilating portion of the shade, and to secure exclusion of tiles and insects that might. be able to gain admission to the room through such apertured portion of the shade.

To this end the window-shade is composedof a closed, light-excluding portion 6 of uch dimensions in length as well as breadth as to properly cover the window when drawn down, and in addition thereto an ap'ertured, air-admitting portion a which increases the length of the shade by being added at the top between the closed portion b and the shade-roller; so that when the shade is drawn down to cover the window this apertured ventilating portion will be in front of and in line with the opening which is afforded by lowering the top-sash, and the air will be freely admitted to the room instead of being shut. off or obstructed in its circulation.

Further or additional provision may be made-for free circulation of air through the shade at the lower part of the window, as when ventilation is desired by raising the sash from the bottom of the window, and at the same time it is desirable to kee the shade drawn down to shut out or modi y the light. For that purpose the lower part of the shade is likewise formed or provided with an apertured, ventilating portion a corresponding to the apert-nred portion a at the top, as seen in Fig. 6. In forming or producing these ventilating portions of the shade the apertures are preferably arranged in rows an they are made of circular sha e in relatively close order extending nearly t 1e full width of the fabric, and in greater or less number of rows according to the super- .ficial dimensions required for the ventilating portion; but so as to leave or provide solid strlps or unperforated portions-f along the perpendicular sides of the shade, as seen in i 6. These continuous strips or portions hem of sufiicient width to 've strength to the abric along the edges 0 the perforated portion, and a so to enable the reinforcing strip of open-mesh fabric 0 to be secured to the shade fabric. This covering of o enmesh fabric is attached to the shade-fa ric preferably by means of an adhesive, as it is united to the body of the shade not only so I I around the edges of the apertured portion, but also over the whole surface covered by the open-mesh fabric so as to reinforce or strengthen the apertured portion of the shade. Pliable mosquito-netting of good quality is used for this covering; but any fabric-or material that will readi y roll with the shade, and in which the interstices or openings between the warp and woof are sufiicicntly small to shut out. flies and other insects can be em loyed for this purpose. An apertured portion thus constructed and reinforced willhave the proper pliability, or flexibility, to permit it to wind and unwind readily on the shade-roller, and will a be besides sufiiciently strong to meet the conditions of strength and durability called for. I

The open-mesh reinforcing material not only serves to prevent the admission of flies and insects through the apertures in the shade, but by contributing to the strength of the solid portions of the fabric between and around the apertures, it permits airapertures of relatively lar e size to be formed and arranged more 0 osely together than would otherwise be practicable.

Ventilating apertures of relatively lar e size are thus secured without materialiy weakening the shade, so that a more free assage and circulation of air throu h the shade is secured by a small number 0 large apertures arranged in relatively close order, than through a greater number of small ones spread over a larger surface.

As shown in the drawings the apertured, ventilating portion is combined with a closed or solid body I) below it of suflicient length to more or less cover the window when drawn down before the apertured portion is unwound from the shade-roller, and the apertured portion a is brought in service by -rawing the shade farther off the roller. Provision is thus made for ventilating the room through the lowered top-sash only when thewmdow is covered by the shade and the light is practically excluded, when the apertured portion a at the top is only provided in the shade. But by providing the additional apertured portion a" at or near the bottom part of the shade, it is possible to adjust the shade so as to cover the opening made by raising the lower sash,

as well as the top-sash, and this without shutting out the air.

A shade of this construction will not 0perate or perform its required function to advantage, however, unless it be held and confined along the sides and also across the top against the window-frame or casing, in such a close manner that no crack or opening is afforded between the shade and the casing; and our invention accordingly involves an lmproved means or device for holding the shade against the window-frame or casing,

so as to close the gap or opening along the sides of the shade and across the top, and also between the shade and the windowsashes. The feature of our invention relating to these means or devices for closing the gaps between the shade and the windowcasing and the sashes, has for its object to prevent the flies and insects from gaining admittance into the room, thereby giving the ventilating shade of our invention both the function of excluding fliesand insects in addition to its ventilating quality; also to keep the shade from flapping in the wind, to the annoyance and discomfort of the occupants of the room. For these means we provide two spring held clamping-strips g g formed of thin slats of proper length to extend from a point beneath and close under the shaderoller down to the bottom of the casing, or to the lowest point reached by the bottom of the shade when it is drawn down. The clamping-strips g g are attached to the easing by hinges preferably spring hinges h,

and are so placed as to clamp the marginal edges of the shade against the casing from the bottom of the window to the shaderoller above the hinges having suiiicient power in their springs to press and hold the edges of the shade closely against the casing. The slats before -mentioned are also of proper width to overlap the shade, but they are cut away or recessed on the side next' the casing in such manner that while. they will engage and bear upon the marginal edge f of the shade, they will clear the shadestick 9 on the bottom of the shade, or will hear so lightly on it as not to prevent or interfere with the shade moving readily up or down when the clamping-strips are raised to take their pressure off the edge of the shade, and allow it to be drawn from or wound on the roller. The form or construction of the clamping-strip is shown in Fig. 7, where the part to bear upon and clamp the side of the shade is seen at k, and from that portion to the outer edge the face of the strip is recessed, as at t, to take the pressure of the stri off the shade-stick q. Another novel eature in this clamping means consists in connecting the two clamplug-strips together, so that they can both be raised or held off the shade by using one hand, thereby leaving the other hand free to raise or lower the shade.

The clamping-strip g hinged to one side of the window-casing is connected with the correspondingly formed strip g on the op fulcrum 5 on the end of a fixed arm 4 on the stationary leaf or member of the hingp. The wire a is attached to the end 7 of t e lever, and between that point and the op site end that is connected to the movaole leaf of the hinge the fulcrum-point is located. The effect of this lever-connection is to producemovement of one clamping-stop simultaneously with the movement of the corresponding strip on the casing, simply by opening or drawing back the strip on whic the knob or handle 11. is provided for that purpose.

As both strips are attached to the windowcasing by sprmghinges, they are held normally closed upon the marginal sides of the shade exerting at such time sufiicient pressure to prevent the shade from flapping under a strong breeze. and to avoid gaps or openings between the edges of the shade and the face of the window-casing that COIII- monly exist when the shade hangs loosely or unconfined.

Being connected together in the manner described, it is not possible to release one edge of the shade without taking the pressure from the opposite side, or without releasing both edgesof the shade from the clamps g g at the same moment; and by connecting the clamps for. simultaneous movement, the additional advantage is gained of releasing the shade from the clamps by using one hand alone, thus leaving the other hand of the operator free to raise or adjust the shade. No separate adjust- I ment of the clamping-strips is therefore required, and they are opened or closed on the shade independently of special care or attention.

In order to employ a relatively thin and flat clamping-strip it is desirable that the shade-stick 1 on the bottom of the shade should be made as thin as will be found consistent with the necessary stiffness and strength. The shade-stick g which we find best adapted to secure these ends, is formed of sheet metal, by bending a strip of the same into a channel shape, and securing it on the edge of the shade by closing the strip after the edge of the fabric is inserted. The shade-stick g is made somewhat shorter than the width of the shade, leaving mar inal portions f on both sides beyond the en s of the stick q, and of suitable width to lie under and be caught between-the window-casing md the clamping faces lc of the strips. The mds of the shade-stick'thus will slide readily )etween the clamps g g and the casing, but he shade will be confined at all points along 'he edges f when the clamps are closed.

In the ordinary sliding-sash window havng a top and a bottom sash there exists when either one or the other is opened, a pace between the two sashes,.afiording an nlet for flies and insects from the outside;

and such space or gap will exist between the top-rail of the bottom-sash and the glass in the top sash when the top-sash is lowered; or when the bottom sash is raised.

The novel features in connection with the ventilating window-shade of our invention include further a cut-oil board or device for closing the gap or space between the sashes and the window casing, whereby when the shade is drawn down and adjusted to cover the opening between the sash and the casing there will be no openin left between the sashes through which ies or insects can enter by crawling on the window-pane.

The means for closing the opening be-- tween the to -ra1l of the upper sash and the windowshar e. comprises the stop-boards 10 12 of proper lengt to fit close y in place between the uprightsides of the windowframe. The stop-board 10 is carried bythe top rail of the upper sash to which it is secured in any suitable manner and extends forward therefrom toward the shade so that when inserted between the partly lowered shade and the top sash as seen in Fig. 2, closes the space or opening between the shade and the top-sash. Another stop-board 12 placed on the top-rail m of the lower sash serves to close the space or opening between' that top-rail and the glass panes in the upper sash, as seen in the detail Fig. 4.

Each stop-board is of the proper dimensions in length to fit tightly between the sides of the window-frame in the run of the sashes, and while the one designated 10 is of sutlicient width to extend across and close the space between the upper sash and the shade, as seen in Figs. 2 and 4, the stopboard 12 fixed in lace on the top-rail of the lower sash exten s toward and touches the glass in the upper sash. The two stopboards 10--12 when thus fixed in place Wlll effectually close the opening between the top-rail of the lower sash and the window anes of the upper sash, when one sash may raised or the other lowered for admitting air. The same and may be attained also by making the stop-board 12 a fixed or permanent element of the top-rail on the lower sash, also by making the stop-board 12 of sutfi cient width to extend over the top rail of the lower sash, and touch the shade when the latter is drawn down, the space between the shade and the lower sash will be closed on the line of the stop-board 12 the same as it is closed on the line of the sto -board 10 above, and the upper stop-boar need not be used. These stop'boards in connection with the ventilating window-shade of our invention are important features in securing the necessary exclusion of flies and insects when ventilating the room through the open. window. r

In connection with the window-shade and fixtures of our invention wherethe shade- This objectionable feature we remove or overcome by arranging a roller m below the shade-roller d parallel with the shade-roller and in close rolling contact with the shade. Asshown in Figs. 1, 2 and 9 bearings m for the axles of this idle-roller are provided in ears of the bracket 7) by which the roller m is accurately held in true relation parallel with the shade-carrying roller and a proper working position of the roller m is insured andmaintained without any special or sepafate adjustment of the supports required for its axes.

An accurate and unvarying relation of the two rollers aand m is an important factor in securing the proper and uniform operation of the window-shade of our invention, as otherwise the shade will not run or travel properly between the clamping-strips. It has been found necessary therefore for insuring a true parallel position and relation of each roller with the others, to provide bearings for the axles of the two rollers upon the same brackets, so that there will be no difliculty in securing the required end. The brackets p which we have provided for this purpose are ofpeculiar construction in having each of the two separate ears or members 14 and m" in fixed and unvarying relation one to the other, and the flanges 18 for securing the bracket to the window-casing. In the ears are slotted apertures in which the axles of the rollers are removably fitted, and in the flanges 18 are apertures 19.,

23 for screws by which to secure the bracket to the face of the casing.

One of the fasteningscrews 20 is preferably formed with a hook 24 having a straight shank 21 and having a shoulder 22 beyond the screw formed by making an olfset in the shank. This screw hook 20 has the double function of securing the bracket to the casing, and of furnishing a support for one end of a curtain rod, when the same is used on the window.

When the hook is screwed in place with the offset or shoulder 22 set up closely against the bracket, it will be seen that the shank of the hook will support the weight of a curtain to a considerable extent or degree without bending, and the liability of straining the hook by requiring it to sustain'the combined weight of the curtainpole and curtain is overcome in a simple an effective manner with the additional advantage of dispensing with separate supports on the casing to carry'the curtain-pole.

We claim 1. The combination with a window casing having a slidable sash, of a shade provided with an apertured portion for admitting the passage of air, the spring held clampingstrips on the casing, and a stop-board on the sash adapted to close the s ace between the sash and the window-shade when the latter is lowered.

2. The combination with a window-casing having slidable sashes, of a. shade provided with an apertured air admitting portion, the spring-held clamping-strips on the cas v ing and the stop-boards on the sashes adapted to close the space between the sashes and between the shade and the sashes when the latter are set to afford openings for circulation of air.

3. The. combination with a window-casing of a shade, a shade-roller therefor, the spring-held clamping strips movably attached to the casing and means operatively connecting the clamping-strips together for moving one strip from the movement of the other strip.

4. The combination with a window-casing, of a shade, a roller for rolling up the shade, spring-held clamping strips attached to the casing and adapted to close the gap between the casing and the shade along the edges of the latter, means operatively connecting the clamping strips together comprising the cord attached to one of the said strips and means to which the cord is attached connected with the other strip and arranged to cause it to open when the first mentioned strip is opened.

5. The combination with a window shade, of means for engaging the edges thereof to hold it from flapping, comprising clamping strips pivoted to the opposite sides of the window casing and means for causing the strips to be simultaneously opened to release the shade and closed to hold it.

6. The combination with a window shade rovided at its lower edge with a shade stick of less length than the width of the shade whereb are left marginal edge portions of the s ade, f, extending beyond the ends of the stick, of pivoted clamps for engaging with the said marginal edges of the shade to hold them against the window casing, the strips being recessed adjacent to their edges on their faces toward the eas- CONSTANT V. HUGHES. JESSE M. ROBINSON.

Witnesses:

EDWARD E. OBBORN, M. Rnoxna. 

